Onkyo today unveiled the full feature set for its TX-SR606 receiver, which is replacing the company’s best-selling TX-SR605. To be frank, the receiver sounds just about perfect for high-definition and home-theater buffs, particularly those looking for a mid-range system loaded with high-end features.
The combination of price and feature set should also help more consumers take advantage of the true advantages of the Blu-ray Disc format, with its nigh-standard 1080p video output and DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio capabilities.
The most notable upgrade in the TX-SR606 receiver is the addition of two HDMI 1.3a inputs (it has four total), support for 1080i video upscaling, Audyssey’s new Dynamic EQ loudness compensation technology and Onkyo’s own new Music Optimizer circuit.
Including four HDMI 1.3a inputs is particularly nice, because consumers won’t have to worry about buying an HDMI switch like the OPPO HM-31 HDMI Switch or IOGEAR 4-Port Automatic HDMI Switch, and they won’t have to worry about owning multiple HDMI-equipped pieces of hardware (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, DirecTV, HD-DVD player, Blu-ray Disc player, set-top box, digital cable, etc.).
These features, as well as the others detailed below, will come wrapped in a tidy package for $579. The Onkyo TX-SR606 will be available in both a black and silver finish.
The Onkyo TX-SR606 A/V receiver provides HDMI 1.3a inputs for up to four high-definition 1080p video sources plus high-definition surround-sound processing — all over a single HDMI connection. HDMI 1.3a has greater bandwidth for higher resolution, higher frame rates and 36-Bit Deep Color. Onkyo’s HDMI video upscaling technology also converts standard definition signals to 1080i.
Onkyo’s new receiver also has a 90 watt-per-channel amplifier section, Remote Interactive control over HDMI (RIHD), Audyssey 2EQ automatic room correction and a full range of surround-sound codecs, including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio for lossless studio-quality playback.
This receiver is among the first products to employ Audyssey’s Dynamic EQ algorithm, which makes on-the-fly adjustments to the receiver’s frequency response and surround levels to compensate for volume changes in the movie, game or music track. This feature, when used with the Audyssey 2EQ system (see below), can also tailor the receiver’s output to correct for room acoustics, listening position and playback-level distortions.
The Audyssey 2EQ automatic calibration employs an included calibration microphone to analyze the system’s acoustical output at three unique positions in the listening area. The receiver sends test signals to each speaker in turn, then uses the inputs from the microphone to adjust channel level and time delay settings for each speaker. By taking readings in three different positions in the theater room, the receiver can be calibrated to the speakers and environment, delivering optimal response throughout the room rather than just at the “sweet spot” directly in front of the screen.
Onkyo’s TX-SR606 employs 32-bit DSP processing and 192 kHz/24-bit digital-to-analog converters on all channels. Each includes 7.1-channel surround processing for Dolby Digital EX, Dolby ProLogic IIx, DTS-ES, DTS-96/24 and DTS Neo:6.
The TX-SR606 also features Onkyo’s Powered Zone 2 capability, which can be used to power stereo speakers in a separate room while listening to 5.1-channel sound in the main zone thanks to a dedicated set of zone 2 L/R speaker terminals. The receiver is capable of processing separate multichannel and stereo sources simultaneously for the main and second zone, or processing a single source for both.